Am I the only Mom who

Does not let her baby feed himself? I didn't with my DD either. The problem is that I cannot stand to see a mess. I am a huge neat freak and obsessive about things being neat and clean so I cannot stand to see food all over the place and their clothes all dirty.

I want to give my LO finger foods that he can experiment with but it's so much cleaner if I just feed him. Not sure if I am making a huge mistake by not letting him feed himself.

My DD is a fussy eater and sometimes I wonder if she'd be a better eater if I had let her feed herself. She's very picky with food and only has about five foods that she eats. She's five years old. Then again, my Mom tells me I was the exact same way as a child. I have no issues with food now. I grew out of it in my 20's. Yup, it sure took a while but I now eat a larger variety of foods.

Does not let her baby feed himself? I didn't with my DD either. The problem is that I cannot stand to see a mess. I am a huge neat freak and obsessive about things being neat and clean so I cannot stand to see food all over the place and their clothes all dirty.

I want to give my LO finger foods that he can experiment with but it's so much cleaner if I just feed him. Not sure if I am making a huge mistake by not letting him feed himself.

My DD is a fussy eater and sometimes I wonder if she'd be a better eater if I had let her feed herself. She's very picky with food and only has about five foods that she eats. She's five years old. Then again, my Mom tells me I was the exact same way as a child. I have no issues with food now. I grew out of it in my 20's. Yup, it sure took a while but I now eat a larger variety of foods.

I'm the same way, I've let my LO feed herself once or twice and I hover with wipes ready to clean up any mess. I wonder as well if I'm doing her a disservice by not giving her the opportunity. I'd like to see what others say...following!

I'm the same way, I've let my LO feed herself once or twice and I hover with wipes ready to clean up any mess. I wonder as well if I'm doing her a disservice by not giving her the opportunity. I'd like to see what others say...following!

Picking up table food and self feeding provides opportunities for fine motor development and sensory development. I think it's an important process for a baby experience. That doesn't mean that you have to let them go nuts with spaghetti, but steamed veggies, puffs, fruits aren't super messy.

As far as it leading to a picky eater, it's really hard to say. Eating is a sensory process and in some cases picky eaters also don't like certain textures whether it's tasting or touching. There is a lot of new information on sensory integration. I'm not an expert, just a mom and former infant teacher at a Montessori school.

I'd try to let you lo work with some simple foods. And your daughter will probably grow out of her eating preferences, my brother was the exact same way and he eats all sorts of food as an adult.

Picking up table food and self feeding provides opportunities for fine motor development and sensory development. I think it's an important process for a baby experience. That doesn't mean that you have to let them go nuts with spaghetti, but steamed veggies, puffs, fruits aren't super messy.

As far as it leading to a picky eater, it's really hard to say. Eating is a sensory process and in some cases picky eaters also don't like certain textures whether it's tasting or touching. There is a lot of new information on sensory integration. I'm not an expert, just a mom and former infant teacher at a Montessori school.

I'd try to let you lo work with some simple foods. And your daughter will probably grow out of her eating preferences, my brother was the exact same way and he eats all sorts of food as an adult.

Like pp said, I think picking things up, squishing it etc is an important thing to learn. At 9 months, the doc will ask if baby has the pincer grasp down, the best way to work on that is with foods- Cheerios fruits veggies, all those finger foods. To me, so what if I have to clean up? I sweep my floors around her chair several times a day, clean her high chair tray after she eats every time and if it's a messy food, I can take her short off. No big deal!

Like pp said, I think picking things up, squishing it etc is an important thing to learn. At 9 months, the doc will ask if baby has the pincer grasp down, the best way to work on that is with foods- Cheerios fruits veggies, all those finger foods. To me, so what if I have to clean up? I sweep my floors around her chair several times a day, clean her high chair tray after she eats every time and if it's a messy food, I can take her short off. No big deal!

Do what you gotta do! If having a neat-freak clean home keeps you sane, do it! (Personally I would love a neat-freak home but it's just not in my genes) Your kid won't go into college requiring someone to feed them. However, if you wanted to let them give it a try, they have mats you can put under the high chair to make clean up easier. You can also disrobe them to make the laundry situation a little easier. Use bibs and then use that bib to wipe up. That's what I usually do.

Do what you gotta do! If having a neat-freak clean home keeps you sane, do it! (Personally I would love a neat-freak home but it's just not in my genes) Your kid won't go into college requiring someone to feed them. However, if you wanted to let them give it a try, they have mats you can put under the high chair to make clean up easier. You can also disrobe them to make the laundry situation a little easier. Use bibs and then use that bib to wipe up. That's what I usually do.

My 6 year old I always fed her BC I was the same way. I just felt like it was faster and cleaner if I did it. I also felt like she ate more if I feed her. When she was 15 months old I had my son. By the time he was eating i was still feeding my 2yo so he had no choice but to feed himself lol. I can say now that let them feed themselves!! I hate saying this but my 6yo is a sloppy eater. Just everywhere while my son is neat. I feel like it's because she never really learned.

Some advice I can give to minimize the mess is to first strip baby This saves making a ton of laundry. And second give them a little at a time. The more you put in front of them the less that actually goes in the mouth. Lastly a quick rinse in the tub or sink has baby like new! With this little one she eats what we eat just cut up into teeny tiny pieces and feeds herself. For surface messes a paper towel and some pray are your best friend.

I can't say it makes them picky eaters or not. All three are pretty good and eat a wide range of things.

I have three children. 6 5 and 8 months. With

My 6 year old I always fed her BC I was the same way. I just felt like it was faster and cleaner if I did it. I also felt like she ate more if I feed her. When she was 15 months old I had my son. By the time he was eating i was still feeding my 2yo so he had no choice but to feed himself lol. I can say now that let them feed themselves!! I hate saying this but my 6yo is a sloppy eater. Just everywhere while my son is neat. I feel like it's because she never really learned.

Some advice I can give to minimize the mess is to first strip baby This saves making a ton of laundry. And second give them a little at a time. The more you put in front of them the less that actually goes in the mouth. Lastly a quick rinse in the tub or sink has baby like new! With this little one she eats what we eat just cut up into teeny tiny pieces and feeds herself. For surface messes a paper towel and some pray are your best friend.

I can't say it makes them picky eaters or not. All three are pretty good and eat a wide range of things.

I never let my babies feed themselves. My toddler is seriously the best at the table. He is 3 with excellent manners. He knows how to use a fork and spoon and uses a napkin often. Even from a very young age it has been easy for us to take him to restaurants. He never makes a mess and generally can sit well at the table and eat. I know so many say you should let baby feed themselves but I think it's never too early to teach good table manners. Plus my 3y eats everything (except beans :).

I never let my babies feed themselves. My toddler is seriously the best at the table. He is 3 with excellent manners. He knows how to use a fork and spoon and uses a napkin often. Even from a very young age it has been easy for us to take him to restaurants. He never makes a mess and generally can sit well at the table and eat. I know so many say you should let baby feed themselves but I think it's never too early to teach good table manners. Plus my 3y eats everything (except beans :).

I don't mean to sound judgmental, but I just really don't get that mindset at all. Kids make messes, it's inevitable. They can be cleaned up, no big deal. My LO has a ball trying to feed himself, and although it CAN get quite messy, he enjoys doing it so much I can't imagine taking that experience away from him. I get such a kick out of watching him do it too. At this age, feeding is all about fun and exploring new things. It should be a mult-sensory experience and not allowing baby to try to self feed is taking a lot of the sensory aspects away. I would definitely encourage you to try and get out of your comfort zone a bit and not focus so much on a potential mess.

I don't mean to sound judgmental, but I just really don't get that mindset at all. Kids make messes, it's inevitable. They can be cleaned up, no big deal. My LO has a ball trying to feed himself, and although it CAN get quite messy, he enjoys doing it so much I can't imagine taking that experience away from him. I get such a kick out of watching him do it too. At this age, feeding is all about fun and exploring new things. It should be a mult-sensory experience and not allowing baby to try to self feed is taking a lot of the sensory aspects away. I would definitely encourage you to try and get out of your comfort zone a bit and not focus so much on a potential mess.

I let my LO explore with finger foods while I'm giving him purée that I know he should be eating and is good for him. The finger foods are almost like a distraction while i put the important things down his mouth. He definitely makes a mess, but I really don't feel that cleaning him and the high chair up after feedings is so hard. It takes a few minutes to wipe him and the chair down. So far he likes everything, there isn't anything he won't eat.

I let my LO explore with finger foods while I'm giving him purée that I know he should be eating and is good for him. The finger foods are almost like a distraction while i put the important things down his mouth. He definitely makes a mess, but I really don't feel that cleaning him and the high chair up after feedings is so hard. It takes a few minutes to wipe him and the chair down. So far he likes everything, there isn't anything he won't eat.

I understand about being a neat freak, I myself fall on the more lenient end of the neat freak spectrum. But self feeding is a very important skill and I think it is silly to deny or delay that because you can't see a mess. I let my son self feed once or twice a day. He makes a huge mess, but it's not like it's so hard to change his clothes, wash his face and hands, and wash his high chair tray afterwards. Then there is no mess. He eats anything and everything (that is a soft enough texture, I'm still nervous about choking), and he is a pro at picking things up with either hand and putting it right in his mouth. He self feeds veggies, bananas, puffs, freeze dried yogurt drops, and e holds his own soppy cup. The mess happens from splashing the water around and playing with pieces of food. It's all about learning. You can't expect your LO to just have perfect feeding etiquette without any practice. Lots if things are easier if we just do it for our babies, but it doesn't benefit them.

I understand about being a neat freak, I myself fall on the more lenient end of the neat freak spectrum. But self feeding is a very important skill and I think it is silly to deny or delay that because you can't see a mess. I let my son self feed once or twice a day. He makes a huge mess, but it's not like it's so hard to change his clothes, wash his face and hands, and wash his high chair tray afterwards. Then there is no mess. He eats anything and everything (that is a soft enough texture, I'm still nervous about choking), and he is a pro at picking things up with either hand and putting it right in his mouth. He self feeds veggies, bananas, puffs, freeze dried yogurt drops, and e holds his own soppy cup. The mess happens from splashing the water around and playing with pieces of food. It's all about learning. You can't expect your LO to just have perfect feeding etiquette without any practice. Lots if things are easier if we just do it for our babies, but it doesn't benefit them.

I'm with you on this. I LOVE watching Ellie enjoy her meals. My DH is a neat freak. Actually gets anxiety when she's messy. He feeds her how he wants and I do it my way. Well now the second he sits down to feed her she starts screaming. She knows she'll only get neat, small, controlled bites from him. I always strip her down, two dogs at the ready and plan on a bath after each big meal (2-3 day). She's my last baby. I am lucky enough to be a sahm, so why not take the time, let her have a ball. I have the time now to devote to her. So I do. Also, I was a crazy neat freak with my ds1. I grew out of it.

I'm with you on this. I LOVE watching Ellie enjoy her meals. My DH is a neat freak. Actually gets anxiety when she's messy. He feeds her how he wants and I do it my way. Well now the second he sits down to feed her she starts screaming. She knows she'll only get neat, small, controlled bites from him. I always strip her down, two dogs at the ready and plan on a bath after each big meal (2-3 day). She's my last baby. I am lucky enough to be a sahm, so why not take the time, let her have a ball. I have the time now to devote to her. So I do. Also, I was a crazy neat freak with my ds1. I grew out of it.

It's not a mindset. I am quite sure I am obsessional. In fact my doctor has told me that I am. I just elect not to go on meds for it. So from my perspective, believe me when I tell you that I wish I didn't give two hoots about being neat and organized. I just can't help myself.

I will take some of the pp's suggestions to try the less messy foods. I think puffs may be doable. I tried the baby mum mum crackers and they were all over including his hair.

Thanks for all the feedback. It's nice to know I am not alone. My 5 year old has no issues using utensils and she was advanced in her development as a baby so I am not concerned about the eating in relation to sensory skills. I am mostly concerned about doing my best to ensure he's a good eater and that I am not doing anything to hinder his eating habits.

It's not a mindset. I am quite sure I am obsessional. In fact my doctor has told me that I am. I just elect not to go on meds for it. So from my perspective, believe me when I tell you that I wish I didn't give two hoots about being neat and organized. I just can't help myself.

I will take some of the pp's suggestions to try the less messy foods. I think puffs may be doable. I tried the baby mum mum crackers and they were all over including his hair.

Thanks for all the feedback. It's nice to know I am not alone. My 5 year old has no issues using utensils and she was advanced in her development as a baby so I am not concerned about the eating in relation to sensory skills. I am mostly concerned about doing my best to ensure he's a good eater and that I am not doing anything to hinder his eating habits.

Btw I don't find cleaning up after my lo to be hard in the least way. I have a full time nanny who does all the cleaning and I am on maternity leave for a year. When she feeds Lo she does let him play around with his food but almost nothing goes in his mouth. It's all on the floor.

Btw I don't find cleaning up after my lo to be hard in the least way. I have a full time nanny who does all the cleaning and I am on maternity leave for a year. When she feeds Lo she does let him play around with his food but almost nothing goes in his mouth. It's all on the floor.

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